Prayers

Prayer Before Confession

Come, Holy Spirit, enlighten my conscience so that I may know my sins. Come, Holy Spirit, help me to grieve sincerely for all the ways I have offended God and my neighbor. Help me to confess with humility and trust in the merciful love of Christ. Amen.

Prayer After Confession

Most merciful God, I thank you for the grace of this sacrament. Through the absolution I have received, my sins are forgiven and I am reconciled to you. Grant me the strength to amend my life, to avoid the occasions of sin, and to persevere in your love. Amen.

The Confiteor (I Confess)

I confess to Almighty God, and to you, my brothers and sisters, that I have greatly sinned, in my thoughts and in my words, in what I have done and in what I have failed to do, through my fault, through my fault, through my most grievous fault; therefore I ask blessed Mary ever-Virgin, all the Angels and Saints, and you, my brothers and sisters, to pray for me to the Lord our God.

Act of Contrition — Version 1 (Baltimore, long)

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins, because I dread the loss of heaven and the pains of hell, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life.

Act of Contrition — Version 2 (Baltimore, substance)

I am sorry for my sins, because they have offended God, and I will never sin again.

Act of Contrition - Version 3

My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I have sinned against You, whom I should love above all things. I firmly intend with Your help to do penance, to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to sin. Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In His name, my God, have mercy.

Act of Contrition - Version 4

O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin.

Our Father

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen.

Hail Mary

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Hail, Holy Queen (Ave Regina Caelorum)

Hail, holy Queen, Mother of Mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope.
To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve.
To thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary.
Pray for us, O Holy Mother of God, that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Amen.

Glory Be

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.